Cheetahs blitz free-scoring Boland

Smith: Two tries in a 50-40 victory

The Cheetahs made sure of their involvement in the Currie Cup play-offs thanks to an entertaining 50-40 victory over Boland in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Boland's losing bonus point also ensures they escape going into the end of season relegation play-off.

Having lead 21-14 at half time Cheetahs kicked on in the second half, but too many basic errors allowed Boland to play free-running rugby - which almost cost the home side.

Too often the Cheetahs played without structure and in doing so failed to rack up a monster score against their lowly guests.

The star of the show for the Cheetahs was fly-half Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who weighed in with five conversions and a penalty. However it was his general play that stood him out from the rest, so often the mastermind behind his side's tries.

His opposite man, Boland's Elgar Watts, was also in fine form, assuming a similar role for the visitors. He sent captain Piet van Zyl over for three tries as Boland secured the bonus point they so needed.

The Scorers:

For Cheetahs:

Tries: Smith 2, Brussow, De Bruyn, Nokwe, Breedt, Van der Merwe.

Cons: Potgieter 5, De Bruyn

Pen: Potgieter

For Boland:

Tries: Van Zyl 3, Strauss, Watts, Scholtz

Cons: Peach 4, Watts

The Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Duanne Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.

Replacements: 16 PW van Vuuren, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Schalk van der Merwe, 20 Jandre Blom, 21 Hennie Daniller, 22 Kabamba Floors.

Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Piet van Zyl (capt), 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 David Hendricks, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Cecil Kemp, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Wium, 1 Janro van Niekerk.

Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Johan Peacock, 19 Angelo Brinkhuys, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Hein Myburgh, 22 Lionel Cornelius.

Referee: Marius Jonker

Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peet Badenhorst

Television match official: Johann Meuwesen